Today I crossed a mountain range.
Todays journey involved climbing. A lot of climbing. We started out on the Palouse to Cascades state trail. Formerly known as the John Wayne trail I think. The trail wasn't overly steep, it just didn't stop. We climbed at a solid 2-3% grade for 30 miles. You can definitely tell that the terrain is starting to change. The dampness is leaving and the nature of the trees is changing.
This is a popular trail. I spotted hikers, runners, and rock climbers at various points. The rock climbers were really neat. Don't know if it was some sort of group climb or not They all seemed so fearless. They climbed up and up with a confidence that I could only hope to dream of.
At the top of the climb we were treated with the most spectacular view. You could look out over the whole valley below. Across the way I-90 made its way across. The cars and trucks looked so small from that vantage point. We rested for a bit and waited for everyone to get there because our next moment was to be a great highlight.
One of the things we debated when starting our trip was well when to start? Go to late and it could be really hot. Go too early and you could run into winter weather up here in these higher elevations.
An avalanche shelter was a very present reminder of the power of these mountains, and a testament of the engineering skill of those who came before.
The Snoqualmie Tunnel was something we really wanted to be able to do. It's closed during the winter and only just reopened when we got there. If the tunnel would have still been closed we would have had to add a major chunk of hiking and climbing to get around it that also would have included some interstate riding. The tunnel is about 2.5 miles long and cuts right through the heart of the mountain. Bring your lights as this tunnel has no electricity through it. The tunnel was cool and pretty dry. We just rode and rode and rode. It seemed unending. Darkness awaited you and darkness followed you. Eventually though the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel appeared and we emerged from the other side.
At this point we were more or less over the highpoint of the Cascades (our first mountain range). And after a 30 mile climb we were greeted with over 30 miles of 2-3% downhill.
As we descended, some changes became quickly apparent. The climate was different. The air was dryer the vegetation became more sparse. You learn of the power of mountain ranges on climate in school, but to witness it first hand was really neat.
Also on the way down I got my first flat tire of the trip. Ugh........ I run a tubeless setup in the my tires which has a fluid designed to help with flats but it seemed to be just a little too big to seal. Thankfully Art was there to help me with a repair dart that helps give the sealant something more to grab on to.
We stopped in a town called Easton for some lunch and were greeted with the reality that in addition to the climate. The nature of the communities we were traveling through was changing as well. These are small towns. These are tight knit towns with community bonds that span generations, and well. We were outsiders. I never felt in danger or threatened. I just felt that they were wanting us to move on as quickly as possible.
We decided that our stop for the night was going to be a primitive campground right on the trail and the banks of the Yakima river. So we stocked up on some supper supplies including instant noodles and peanut butter and headed to camp.
the last 15 miles or so were very tiring. The trail became rougher and I became more cranky. I wanted to be done. I was done. But I wasn't done. I still had to do 15 miles. This is something I'm discovering on this trip. You have to find a way to push through. The group is waiting for you. The group is depending on you, and you have to rise above your own complaints. It's tough, but I'm working on it.
After rolling into camp. Jeff was able to help lighten my mood by doing some silly dances, and for that i was grateful. We made supper and basically went to bed. Also in the campground were some flyfishers who had boated up the river to fish for a couple days. The rushing river was a wonderful sound to fall asleep to.
'till next time
-Matt
Miles today: 63.97
Total miles: 292.13
Feet climbed today: 2,523
Total feet climbed: 16,163
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